Davin is a culturally Deaf person and native user of American Sign Language, and hails from a fourth-generation Deaf family in Rochester. Searls is the Executive Director of Discovering Deaf Worlds (DDW), a non-profit organization that promotes the self-determination of signing Deaf communities through local capacity building in developing countries. He joined DDW in 2008 after 10 months teaching Deaf university students in Changchun, China. Searls also serves on the National Association of the Deaf International Sub-Committee.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)